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Story: Children’s homes and fostering

Abuse claims

People who claimed they were neglected or abused as children in state care could make a complaint to the Ministry for Social Development (MSD), which assessed each claim individually. Brian Wilkinson was unable to agree on a settlement with MSD and filed a claim for redress in court. In a television programme which aired on 16 July 2009, he explained that it was important to him to receive an acknowledgement of suffering, and an apology..

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Children’s homes and fostering – Experiences of institutional and foster care, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/28611/abuse-claims (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 24 March 2011.

Comments

stan popata
11 July 2024
Was sent to Ōwairaka in 1968. Love to tell my story. Mr Ricketts was the manager and staff were like Gestapo. Lot of abuse now i know.
Anthony King
26 May 2023
1982, 1 was taken to Owairaka Boy home, for not behaving, and fitting in too the regimen of Dingwall Trust. Both my parents had died. My mum first, then my dad 6mths later. 2weeks - month, i was introduced too the rules and regulations of Dingwall Orphanage. I was 10-11yrs old at this time, and I was lost an hurting. (Still today I'm still waiting for my mum to walk through the door). My world had been ripped apart, I didn't know how to relate too these new people, who where telling me what to do, how to behave, and what to feel emotional about the dead of my Mum & Dad They became angry and abusive towards me, because I wasn't listening to them. At the time it felt surreal, an my mind was in shutdown mode. So I rebelled against them. I have been a ward of the state, since then. When I was in the R.O (receiving office) at OWairaka. They told me to take all my clothes off, an to stand under the shower head that was sticking out from the ceiling in this big open room. I felt humiliated, and scared. Then the Mister(correction officer) pulled or push something. I thought I was going too get wet, but I was covered with this white powder from head to toe. They call it delicing, because us Maori children where nothing but Dogs. Then I was told me too grab my kit,(bedding and toiletries) and to follower the Mister into the basketball area, where there were cages on the left side of the arena or maybe both sides, I can't remember exactly. These cages were for new arrivals. "Correction terminology" Welcome too 'THE SECURE UNIT' (classification) I was so scare and I cried myself to sleep, but that was only the begining of this nightmare. The next morning we were unlocked and instructed to go to this other cage too have breakfast. I was the youngest child at the table, everyone else was about 16 - 17yrs of age, somewhere almost 18yrs old. When you turn 18 you were off too "ROCK" Mt Eden Prison. Some of these young Men were up on really serious charge's. ( Rape of young boys between the age of 9 - 12yrs of age). So from the on I was in so many fights and disagreements with these older young men. At the time I didn't know about their charge's they were up on. The rest of my life story is really painful too tell. I get emotional and angry trying too figure out, why my life had changed. Now I was walking a life I had NO choice about it. I am still a Ward of the State, or how we inmates say it... STATEWARD.
Aaron Smeith
28 August 2017
During the late 1980s my family put me into a state care facility in Epsom Auckland, whilst there i was beaten by other kids more than once, i watched as 1 kid committed suicide by hanging himself and even tried to commit suicide myself for which i was severely punished and abused by the house manager. I was assaulted by other residence of the house, at the direction of the house manager, for running away. I've spent the last 29 years of my life hiding from the pain by drowning my shame, sorrows and pain in alcohol which landed me in jail 4 times for drink driving. Now that my body can't handle the alcohol abuse anymore i am forced to face the pain, which often seems like to much leaving me feeling like killing myself rather than deal with not only the abuse but also the prospect of having to face my family and ask why they did this to me, just because i fought with my siblings and wouldn't listening to my parents.
Victor Tarawa
04 March 2015
...in the early 1970,s I was taken to Owairaka Boys home with 2 other persons from Christchurch,was subjected to harsh treatment in the secure unit,everything was on the double, run to get your food, run to have a shower,run to do everything, physical exercise everyday running on the spot press ups sit ups sometimes all day in a small yard caged in like a animal verbally abused etc they never allowed me to leave secure unit yet my 2 european friends were released to the top house after 2 days, I have never forgot this past treatment being hit and punished for what? running away from home